Quarterback questions loom over Riders

Bob Dyce has a quarterback quandary just two games into his time as the Saskatchewan Roughriders' interim head coach. With the 2015 CFL season all but lost after Saturday's 22-7 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Dyce must decide who will start at quarterback for the 1-10 Riders before Saturday's 7 p.m. game again the visiting Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday.

Bob Dyce has a quarterback quandary just two games into his time as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ interim head coach. With the 2015 CFL season all but lost after Saturday’s 22-7 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Dyce must decide who will start at quarterback for the 1-10 Riders before Saturday’s 7 p.m. game again the visiting Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday.

Dyce has options because veteran Kevin Glenn is eligible to be activated from the six-game injured list before Saturday’s home game. Dyce could stick with rookie Brett Smith, who completed 13 of 28 pass attempts for 114 yards with one touchdown pass on Saturday. He was also intercepted twice, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Smith rushed four times for 53 yards.

The Riders were able to generate only seven points after Winnipeg committed five first-half turnovers (two on downs, two fumble recoveries and an interception). Saskatchewan was shut out after taking a 7-0 lead just 20 seconds into the second quarter. Winnipeg scored 22 unanswered points in the final three quarters.

Dyce didn’t commit to either quarterback after suffering his first loss as the Riders’ interim head coach.

“You can’t make any decisions emotionally right now,” said Dyce, whose Riders beat the Blue Bombers 37-19 in the Labour Day Classic on Sept. 6. “I have to go back and watch the game film. You have to understand that Kevin hasn’t played in a long time. We’ll go forward and we’ll make decisions as we see fit.” Glenn has been on the sideline since suffering a torn pectoral muscle in a 31-21 loss to the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 26. Glenn resumed practising with the Riders last week.

Injuries cleared Smith’s move to the top of the Riders’ depth chart. Franchise quarterback Darian Durant was lost for the season after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon in the first regular-season game on June 27. Four games later, Glenn suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 26. Smith, a 23-year-old rookie, has shown promise in his six starts. He also showed Saturday that he’s still learning the game and was often overmatched by Winnipeg’s defensive schemes.

“They did a good job of mixing up their looks and controlling our run game and getting pressure on me,” said Smith, who was sacked five times and was under pressure throughout the game.

Smith will let the coaches decide who is the starter against the Redblacks.

“I’m glad that Kevin is healthy because he’s a good friend of mine,” Smith said. “I’ll see what happens next week. I haven’t been told anything as far as that goes. I will fill whatever role they put me in.” The Riders are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, creating an opportunity to groom Smith for the future. The Riders are already in a hole due to their record and their upcoming schedule. They play host to Ottawa on Saturday and the Montreal Alouettes on Sept. 27 before closing out the season with four of their final games on the road.

The Roughriders could use this final portion of the season to evaluate young players like Smith in live game action. That would mean playing prospects like Smith ahead of veterans like Glenn.

“It’s not my call,” Smith said. “I’m going to control what I can control and try to be the best quarterback that I can be and try to improve off of this.” Smith still feels the best way for him to improve is by being on the field.

“I love playing and I think the best experience comes from playing,” Smith said. “If they decide to start Kevin, then I’m going to be his biggest fan and I’ll be ready if I’m called upon to start again.” The Riders are to return to practice Tuesday, at which point it may be known which way Dyce has decided to go at quarterback.

“I can’t tell you if it’s going to be a tough decision when I haven’t had to make it yet,” Dyce said. “We make all of our decisions together and we’ll go forward once we evaluate things.”

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